elk

WOW. Just WOW, you guys. Elk steak is genuinely my favorite kind of steak. And this elk ribeye steak with peach salsa is no exception. It’s crazy juicy, flavorful, tender and the fresh peach salsa adds a layer of interest and brightness.

This post is sponsored by The Honest Bison. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own and I’m proud to partner with brands that I love.

We obviously eat venison all of the time, but I was surprised with how tender, sweet and mild the elk tasted comparatively. I thought this was just because of the restaurant preparation.

Turns out – I was wrong! Elk really just is that delicious and you can do it at home!

I’ve been partnering with my friends at The Honest Bison for about 6 months and I’ve had the pleasure of tasting different cuts of elk that they humanely source and ship. A lot of you have told me that you love working with wild game, but you aren’t able to get your hands on what you want when you want. Or, you might not have a hunter in your life. I started working with them so I could give you a resource and I’ve been LOVING it.

Unfortunately, Jared hasn’t had the opportunity to go on an elk hunt (yet!) but that hasn’t stopped us from having elk meat at home.

What part of the body does the ribeye steak come from?

For this recipe, I used The Honest Bison’s elk ribeye. Ribeye steaks are harvested from the rib section of the animal. Some come bone in but these were boneless. They’re great because they generally have a bit more marbling, or fat distributed throughout.

If you’re using your own elk meat and don’t have ribeye steak, the marinade I use here would work on almost any cut. Flank steak, medallions, strips – whatever. More on the marinade in a minute.

How do you tenderize elk steak?

Even though the ribeye does have more fat than other cuts of meat, you still need to work harder to tenderize it than you would with beef. I simply use a really great marinade with plenty of fat (olive oil) and acid (lime). The olive oil adds needed fat and the acid helps break down the tissue, resulting in a more tender cut of meat.

Also – please make sure you don’t overcook the ribeye. I prefer my steaks between rare plus and medium rare – 125-135F. I really don’t recommend cooking wild game steak over 135F. That’s generally the most common reason you get that “gamey” flavor.

What’s in the fresh peach salsa?

This peach salsa is SUPER duper easy. All you do is chop up some peaches, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, and cilantro and top with lime juice, honey or agave, and olive oil.

I serve the elk ribeyes topped with the peach salsa and a grilled avocado is a great addition to the plate.

Did you make this recipe?

Throw together this healthy elk taco salad when you want to use up some ground elk or venison meat. The paleo, homemade taco seasoning makes wild game taste amazing.

Confession – we have taco salads about every other week. They’re just so easy to throw together and you can add whatever toppings you have on hand + tortilla chips. I love to make them with wild game, and this healthy elk taco salad is one of my favorites.

As much as I love real deal tacos, I try to cut back on refined flours as much as I can, and I’m a flour tortilla girl. Refined flour and sugar makes me feel really puffy and my joints start to ache sometimes which is no bueno.

But tortilla chips – no they’re my jam. Set me up with a big bowl of salsa and some tortillas (maybe some guac??) and I’m good to go. So naturally, I have to add them to my salads for some crunch. If you’re going paleo, use a grain free tortilla chip and top this salad with some salsa, olive oil and lime juice. That’s my JAM!

What’s makes the best taco seasoning for wild game?

I use classic taco spices – chili powder, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder. The trick for wild game is to add some apple cider vinegar. It keeps the elk from tasting gamey and lets the rich flavor shine.

If you’re looking for elk meat, I’ve worked with The Honest Bison in the past and love theirs!

What dressing do you use?

My favorite dressing for this is my Healthy Taco Lime Greek Yogurt Dressing. It happens to be one of the most popular on my website. Or, as I said earlier you can top with salsa, lime, and olive oil if you’re going paleo/dairy free. Also, feel free to use whatever you like – any kind of ranch or salsa ranch will do.

What are the best toppings for elk taco salad?

The best toppings are…whatever you like in a taco! For this healthy elk taco salad, I used tomato, corn, avocado and jalapeno. Of course, omit the corn for grain free/paleo. I would also be delicious with pickled red onion, bell peppers, cotija cheese – whatever you’re craving.

Did you make this recipe?

Primary Sidebar

Hey friend! Welcome to Miss Allie’s Kitchen. Around here, I serve up real food recipes from the heart. I’m a small town girl living in PA with my husband, and our dog – come read more about the team right here! You can expect to see a lot of real food recipes packed with veggies & even wild game that my husband harvests and provides for our family. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention my favorite dessert, pie. Kick off your boots and stay a while!